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CERT UPDATE A PUBLICATION FROM THE BOARD OF CERTIFICATION SUMMER 2021 Orthopedic Specialty A step forward for ATs. A leap for the profession.3 BOCATC.ORG SUMMER 2021 2021 BOARD OFFICERS President/Athletic Trainer Director Patrick Sexton, EdD, LAT, ATC Vice President/Athletic Trainer Director René Revis Shingles, PhD, AT, ATC Treasurer/Athletic Trainer Director Mary Kirkland, MS, LAT, ATC Athletic Trainer Director Michael Carroll, MEd, LAT, ATC Athletic Trainer Director Neil Curtis, EdD, LAT, ATC Athletic Trainer Director Kimberly Detwiler, MS, LAT, ATC, CSCS Corporate/Educational Director Diana Settles, MAT, ATC Physician Director Douglas Gregory, MD Public Director Robin Y. Jenkins, MSW, DCSW, CPM Athletic Trainer Director Appointee Christina Eyers, EdD, AT, ATC Physician Director Appointee Katherine Dec, MD, FAAPMR, FAMSSM Chief Executive Officer Anne M. Minton, MBA INSIDE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Letter From the President 4 BOC Seeks Candidates for the Board of Directors 4 BOC CONNECTION Athletic Training and Therapy Profession International Arrangement 5 Cover Story: Orthopedic Specialty A step forward for ATs. A leap for the profession. 6 What ATs Need to Know for 2020-2021 Recertification and Beyond 8 IDEAS Task Force: Initial Steps Toward Inclusion, Diversity and Equity 8 New BOC Approved Providers 9 Featured BOC Approved Provider 9 INDUSTRY NEWS Successful Redeployment at HFHS 10 The Profession and Parenting 12 In-Depth Look: Athletic Trainer at NASA Contributes to Space Mission 14 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND STATE REGULATION Professional Practice and Discipline 16 Legislation News 18 BOC CORNER BOC News in Brief 18 Meet the BOC Volunteers 20 NATA NEWS Latest News and Updates from NATA 19 CANDIDATES 2021 Exam Deadlines At-A-Glance 22 BOC Holiday Closures 22While the past year has been a roller coaster ride worldwide, we are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. During this pandemic uncertainty, the BOC has thrived to work on goals, new programs and maintain a high level of service to the candidates and Athletic Trainers (ATs) we serve. We have been able to make impressive headway on planned initiatives built on our amazing volunteers’ contributions. The outstanding BOC team supports their work and continues to drive change positively for the athletic training profession. We are in the midst of the BOC Orthopedic Specialty Certification release. Work on releasing the first-ever board-certified specialty is driven by the BOC Specialty Council (Council), headed by Chair Michael Hudson, PhD, ATC. The orthopedic specialty exam, set to be administered this summer, is being finalized, as well as the application process. Communications to spread the word to ATs who are currently prime applicants for the specialty — first movers — and the overall AT community have been launched. The BOC is spreading the word to employers of ATs within the health care community to promote the value this orthopedic specialty certification will provide, further elevating the athletic training profession’s role. Our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Advocacy Strategies (IDEAS) Task Force, which kicked off its work in November, supports our Strategic Plan priority of Advocacy. The IDEAS Task Force is headed by co-chairs Cathy Ortega, EdD, ATC, PT, OCS and Carla R. Gilson, MA, AT, LAT, CES and has made substantial headway in defining strategic goals, initiating some short-term actions and developing a BOC statement of inclusion, diversity, equity and advocacy. This statement, which now lives on the BOC website, will guide the entire organization into the future. They are working on tangible projects around demographics and the AT certification exam that address diversity, equity and inclusion for all ATs and ultimately impact their patients. Just a reminder to our AT audience that this is a recertification year, with continuing education requirements due at year-end. As announced earlier this year, the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Category will be removed starting Jan. 1, 2022, but ATs still need to meet EBP requirements for the current certification period, which ends Dec. 31, 2021. We are encouraging BOC Approved Providers to continue to offer required EBP credits through year-end. Going forward in 2022 BOC Approved Providers will be incorporating EBP principles into all Category A programs. The launch of our system conversion of BOC Central to the improved BOC360 has already enhanced the work of BOC Approved Providers. As ATs use this newly updated system, they will experience an elevated user experience for CE reporting and all administrative functions. We’re excited for the benefits it will bring to ATs. As you can see, the initiatives we have in the works are vital to the athletic training profession’s health and ongoing success. Our volunteers continue to work undaunted, even in challenging times. Without our volunteers, we could not do what we do. We have had to forego our annual volunteer appreciation reception during the pandemic — a highlight of the NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo. While we will not be face-to-face this year for our special event, we have made it a priority to provide recognition for these key contributors through social media, the BOC newsroom and other specialized communications. In the future, the BOC will be enriching and expanding our work with volunteers, creating an outreach and engagement department. This program’s primary goal will be leadership development, expansion and diversification of our pool of volunteers that provide service to the organization. The BOC’s strength comes from our leaders and volunteers. Once again, I would like to commend the BOC staff for not skipping a beat over the past year as they work to support our volunteers, candidates, ATs and BOC Approved Providers to reach new heights and improve service levels. I am excited about what the future holds for the BOC. The BOC’s priority is our current and future credential holders, your patients, the public and all of the stakeholders we serve. With deep appreciation, Patrick Sexton LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Patrick Sexton, EdD, LAT, ATC 4 BOCATC.ORG SUMMER 2021 BOC Seeks Candidates for the Board of Directors The BOC is accepting applications for a new Athletic Trainer Director to serve on the BOC Board of Directors starting in 2023, following a year of mentorship. All application materials are due by July 5, 2021. If you are interested in submitting your name as a potential candidate, please visit the BOC website for the application and appointment guidelines. If you have any questions about the process, please contact Shannon Fleming at ShannonF@bocatc.org.THE INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENT For The Athletic Training and Therapy Profession “ This new agreement marks another milestone in the development of the athletic training/therapy profession in Ireland and globally. Not only will it improve mobility of our Irish Certified Athletic Therapists, it also acknowledges our high professional and educational standards. This is critical to the recognition of the profession in Ireland and worldwide. We in ARTI are very excited about the next stage in the development of our profession, domestically and internationally. We are energized by this new and expanded partnership with our colleagues in Britain, Canada and the United States and look forward to contributing to the development of our profession globally.” – Enda Whyte, PhD, Executive Member, ARTI “ The year 2021 will be a landmark in the history of sport rehabilitation, athletic therapy and athletic training from both a national and international perspective. Although all the partners have been working collaboratively for nearly two decades, the launch of our international arrangement in June 2021 marks the start of us being a true global profession. I look forward to the huge difference that our registrants and members will make to both population and patient health on a grand scale.” – Steve Aspinall MSc, GSR, FHEA, Chief Executive, BASRaT Athletic Training and Therapy Profession International Arrangement “This new international agreement highlights the growth of athletic training worldwide and Canada is excited to be a part of it.” – Melanie Levac, Executive Director CATA 5 BOCATC.ORG SUMMER 2021 The international profession of athletic training and therapy plays a key role in optimizing care, injury prevention, rehabilitation and supporting the rights of patients and the public to achieve their potential to live well. To support this on a global scale, partnerships are necessary to enhance both patient and population health. As a result, the athletic training and therapy profession’s credentialing organizations, Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI), British Association of Sport Rehabilitators (BASRaT), BOC and Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) are working together to develop an International Arrangement that will ensure comparable best practices, quality education, professional standards and the opportunity for athletic training, athletic therapy and sport rehabilitation professionals to be mobile on a global scale by creating a pathway to challenge each other’s credentialing exam. Aligning this profession and each organization’s national credentials across international borders requires attention to the principles of validity, reliability, consistency, accuracy, fairness and legal defensibility. To ensure the success of the comparability process, and ultimately the International Arrangement, the four international partners are working with International Consultants of Delaware, Inc.* (IDC), a division of CGFNS International, Inc. to develop a comparability tool tailored to each organization. CGFNS has been the world’s largest credentials evaluation organization for the nursing and allied health professions since 1977. The arrangement among the partners will provide mobility for those in the athletic training and therapy profession across these international boundaries. Once implemented, it will replace the current Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). According to Rusty McKune, ATC, chair of the BOC International Committee, who is heading this effort on behalf of the BOC: “The MRA was the significant first step. Now, the International Arrangement provides the opportunity to align the athletic training and therapy profession with other health care professions. By further validating the process, the International Arrangement opens the door to new possibilities for the profession and credential holders around the world.” The International Arrangement is set to launch this summer. * ICD, a charter member of National Association of Credential Evaluations Services (NACES), is a globally recognized expert in credentials evaluation for education, employment, immigration, licensure and certification. ICD website: icdeval.comOrthopedic Specialty 6 The launch of the athletic training profession’s first board-certified specialty — the BOC Orthopedic Specialty Certification (orthopedic specialty) — is in full motion. The release of the BOC’s breakthrough specialty will advance the profession of athletic training within the health care community, allowing Athletic Trainers (ATs) to distinguish and advance themselves within the area of orthopedic practice. This is the only board-certified specialty certification for ATs with advanced knowledge, skills and experience in orthopedics and provides a pathway to improved working conditions, compensation, advancement, differentiation, respect and inclusion for ATs. The introduction of this first specialty is part of a larger strategy to advance the athletic training profession and provide expanded career path opportunities. For practicing ATs, specialty means a viable, long-term career filled with opportunities to distinguish themselves in the delivery of patient care earning recognition and respect for the experience, focus and skills they demonstrate. The credential can be achieved by ATs with specialized education or focused experience in orthopedics beyond the requirements for the ATC ® credential. The orthopedic specialty is not based on practice setting, but rather on the role and responsibilities of the practitioner for their patient population. For example, if an AT employed in a hospital/clinic setting identifies that their knowledge and skills align with the “BOC Orthopedic Practice Analysis” (OPA) they may want to consider challenging the orthopedic specialty exam. BOC SPECIALTY COUNCIL The BOC Specialty Council (Council) was formed in 2018 (after working since 2016 under the auspices of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) to spearhead this project). Michael Hudson, PhD, ATC was named as chair. The Council has worked to drive progress over the last five years bringing this important project forward. The rigor involved in launching a specialty that meets the requirements of true board certification is significant. Following a thorough and in-depth process, supported by multiple research projects and countless volunteer and staff hours over a multi-year period, the BOC is finalizing the scope of the new specialty, as well as the certification exam and exam support materials. The administration of the specialty’s first exam is slated for summer 2021. In preparation, the BOC is fine-tuning the remaining details around the release. ELIGIBILITY & CERTIFICATION The Council and BOC Standards Committee collaborated to create the eligibility and recertification requirements for this specialty, supported by the Orthopedic Specialty Certification Eligibility Survey. The initial survey, administered in August 2019 by the Council, was supplemented by a public comment period facilitated with the support of the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2021 to provide additional information around the targeted area of orthopedic practice. Results provided supportive evidence in the finalization of eligibility requirements available on the BOC website. Recertification requirements are coming soon. There are two defined paths of eligibility for the orthopedic specialty. The first focuses on ATs who have completed a Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education approved residency in orthopedics, along with two years of full-time experience as a practicing AT (one of which is included in the year in residency.) The second, the education and experience path, requires four years of experience as an AT within orthopedic focused segments, in addition to a block of relevant education hours.A step forward for ATs. A leap for the profession. “The orthopedic specialty is intended for ATs in both traditional and non-traditional employment settings. Orthopedics is part of what ATs do, and we’d like to see ATs with a passion for orthopedics obtain this specialty.” – Michael Hudson, PhD, ATC 7 BOCATC.ORG SUMMER 2021 “The two options — residency and experience — strive to provide balanced, similar level requirements to ensure eligibility for the BOC Orthopedic Specialty Exam, while taking slightly different paths,” said Hudson. “The orthopedic specialty is intended for ATs in both traditional and non-traditional employment settings. Orthopedics is part of what ATs do, and we’d like to see ATs with a passion for orthopedics obtain this specialty.” SPECIALTY EXAM The BOC is planning for a summer 2021 initial administration of the BOC Orthopedic Specialty Exam. ATs who meet the defined eligibility requirements will be able to apply under application deadlines that will occur during summer 2021. The BOC OPA Task Force crafted the OPA study to define the domain weighting for the BOC Orthopedic Specialty Exam content development. Following initial development and validation, the validation study was administered to a targeted sample of 2,000 ATs. This targeted sample included ATs focused on orthopedics as a specialty practice area for ATs. The OPA for the orthopedic specialty is available on the BOC website. The BOC Orthopedic Specialty Exam Development Committee, which is made up of a team of orthopedic specialty exam writers, continues to develop and validate the item bank for the exam. The exam will align with the domain, task, knowledge and skill statements outlined in the OPA. Exam questions are developed to assess knowledge on subject matter from the domains of orthopedic specialty in athletic training. To further validate the orthopedic specialty, the BOC is seeking third- party accreditation from the National Commission on Certifying Agencies (NCCA). BENEFITS OF ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALTY Armed with the orthopedic specialty, ATs who achieve this additional credential will be better positioned to work within the orthopedic field where they are already highly valued by employers for increasing throughput, serving as an extension of the physician, connecting systems to create efficiency and strengthening patient relationships. Employers in a wide variety of practice settings already embrace the incredible value that ATs bring to the table and the orthopedic specialty credential will further increase that impact when applied to orthopedic practice. The board-certified orthopedic specialty will demonstrate that ATs have the ability to enhance patient care, improve overall quality, optimize clinical outcomes, increase cost-effectiveness and provide value-based care. In addition to ATs, the BOC has received feedback from physicians in physician- practice settings during the specialty development. Their feedback has identified support for an athletic training orthopedic specialty. While the orthopedic specialty is not required, employers with orthopedic positions within their organizations were surveyed and indicated that post-certification education was important to them. In fact, based on feedback, additional specialized skills in the orthopedic clinical setting appear to hold considerable value for employers and supervisors. Skills gained, combined with employer’s desire to improve patient outcomes and their overall practice, will push mid-level health care providers with an orthopedic specialty into the forefront of our evolving health care system. This orthopedic specialty is much more than a certificate earned after a day-long seminar. It is the first and only board-certified specialty for ATs with advanced knowledge, skills and experience in orthopedics and is backed by the BOC’s rigorous process and standard, and ongoing level of excellence. Learn more about the orthopedic specialty on the BOC website, and encourage ATs you know that are focused on orthopedics to further explore what it represents for their career.What ATs Need to Know for 2020–2021 Recertification and Beyond The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Advocacy Strategies (IDEAS) Task Force, which is headed by co-chairs Cathy Ortega, EdD, PT, ATC, OCS and Carla R. Gilson, MA, AT, LAT, CES, continues to support the BOC’s Strategic Plan priority of Advocacy. The task force, since its formation in November 2020, has defined its mission with a statement of work, and defined measurable strategic goals. The direction and work of the task force is to investigate inclusion, diversity and equity opportunities within the BOC as it relates to the athletic training community and to suggest strategic and deliberative advocacy and leadership development for future committees, policies and procedures. One of the task force’s first actions was to develop a formalized BOC statement of inclusion, diversity, equity and advocacy that encompasses their mission. This statement lives on the BOC website so all visitors — candidates, Athletic Trainers (ATs), educators, BOC Approved Providers, other stakeholders and the general public — will realize the organization’s stance and driving mantra in this area. In addition to developing this statement to guide its work, the task force has made strong headway to define and prioritize strategic goals. First areas of focus include exam development, continued professional development, administration and work with BOC strategic partners. An initial project of the task force includes analysis and alignment of the BOC collection process for demographic information within candidate and AT profiles. As the preeminent source of data collection for candidates and ATs, the task force has suggested enhancements in demographic collection through the new BOC360 portal. ATs will have new opportunities to provide ethnicity and gender information, disability status and other background details. Once this data is collected the task force and future committees will be able to address issues related to diversity within the athletic training profession. The IDEAS Task Force will collaborate with BOC staff in an ongoing basis to support initiatives for recruitment and leadership development of future volunteers and recruitment of diverse individuals. In addition, they will work with the BOC board and our Strategic Alliance partners, to proactively align efforts and communicate as a profession. IDEAS Task Force: Initial Steps Toward Inclusion, Diversity and Equity 8 BOCATC.ORG SUMMER 2021 EBP requirements for the current 2020–2021 recertification period have NOT changed. Starting with the 2022–2023 recertification period, principles of Evidence Based Practice (EBP) will be incorporated into all Category A programs increasing the caliber of curriculum overall. As such, BOC Approved Providers will be meeting the charge of offering quality continuing education (CE) based on evidence. The BOC Approved Provider standards will continue to evolve ensuring EBP principles and best practices are always included. Per the BOC Standards Committee, EBP Category requirements will be discontinued after the current reporting period ends on Dec. 31, 2021. For 2021, BOC Approved Providers will continue to offer EBP Category programs as Athletic Trainers (ATs) need to fulfill EBP recertification requirements as follows: • ATs certified in 2019 or before must complete 50 continuing education units (CEUs), which must include at least 10 EBP CEUs by Dec. 31, 2021. • ATs certified in 2020 must complete 25 CEUs, which must include at least 5 EBP CEUs by Dec. 31, 2021. Please note that ATs who do not complete the 2020-2021 recertification requirements by the Dec. 31, 2021, deadline will still be required to complete their EBP requirement to reactivate or reinstate their certification. BEST WAY TO FIND CE PROGRAMS As BOC Approved Providers have shifted their delivery options for education events during the pandemic, there are more and more online programs being offered. These are flexible and cost-effective solutions to fulfilling CE requirements, especially for ATs with daily schedules that are rarely the same and shifts caused by patient load changes, weather delays, cancellations, reschedules and more. Online learning is an ideal option for ATs. Search for these available options, as well as other CE programs through the BOC’s brand new program directory. There is no longer a need to do a random web search or default to programs that you’ve attended in past years. The new program directory houses every approved Category A and EBP CE option available for ATs both in the United States and internationally, offered by over 600 BOC Approved Providers. Drill down and search for programs using the dozens of fields provided or keep your search wide open and peruse away for programs that will help you continue to gain professional competence and meet CE requirements.FEATURED BOC APPROVED PROVIDER NEW BOC APPROVED PROVIDERS 360 Neuro Health Institute ACE Running Active Release Techniques, LLC American Musculoskeletal Institute American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Athletics Healthcare Administrators Association Barbell Rehab, LLC Blissfullyinbalance Butler University Children’s Hospital Los Angeles - COC Sports Medicine Clarion University Diabetes Motion Academy EXOS GRIP Approach Haynes PT Institute Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments Integrated Ortho Solutions Intricate Art Spine & Body Solutions Ithaca College Athletic Training Education Lowcountry AHEC Main Line Health Mammoth Hospital Mercy Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine - Cincinnati Modern Cupping Therapy Education Company Monument Health NC Area Health Education Center NDP Medical Northeast Georgia Physician Group - Orthopedics Olympic Sports and Spine Orfit Industries America Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, Ltd OrthoSC / Horry County Schools Pinnacle Training & Consulting Systems, LLC PT Entrepreneur R2P Academy Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society Texas Children’s Hospital The BioMechanics Method The Orthopedic Hospital UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Athletic Training Department University of Oklahoma Athletics University of Virginia VALD Group, Inc Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association Wisconsin Athletic Trainers’ Association Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters April Kirkner PT, DPT, ATC The BOC regularly features BOC Approved Providers for notable efforts to enhance its continuing education programs for Athletic Trainers (ATs). Featured organizations follow the guidelines set forth by the BOC. Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters Sports Medicine Physical Therapy Educator April Kirkner PT, DPT, ATC, shares her organization’s experience. Why does your organization choose to participate in the BOC Approved Provider Program? Our organization uses the BOC Approved Provider program to develop and implement quality programs that allow us to provide educational opportunities to our staff, as well as develop a means to network with community practitioners and draw them into our programs. How have the BOC standards and guidelines for BOC Approved Providers impacted your program development and administrative processes to offer continuing education programs for Athletic Trainers? The BOC standards and guidelines provide structure that helps me coordinate programs from an administrative perspective, as well as an educational design focus. They help me to work effectively with presenters and educators to develop curriculum and resources to accompany each program making them the highest quality possible. The standards and guidelines assist me in ensuring that our programming objectives and content is at an appropriate learning level and within the athletic training domains. How do you design your curriculum to help participants improve outcomes for the patients they serve? Our programming throughout the year is focused on topics under the category of sports medicine for pediatrics and adolescent medicine. Once a program topic is selected, it is designed to ensure that the content helps participants improve knowledge and ability to apply the knowledge, which affects the patients they serve. We measure our participants learning by use of a participant evaluation and assessment. What advice do you have for organizations looking to be on the cutting edge and maintain compliance, as they develop education programs? My advice to be on the cutting edge is to select quality topics that your community is interested in learning about and to follow trends that are affecting our practitioners. On our program evaluation, I ask participants to provide us with topics that they would like to see presented. My advice to maintain compliance is to follow the BOC standards and guidelines when setting up your programs. 9 BOCATC.ORG SUMMER 2021Next >